Quality of future labour force:

With the presence of the COVID-19 pandemic, the education system has experienced significant
disruption. The most prominent issue is that COVID-19 exacerbate well-documented opportunity
gaps that put marginalized groups at a greater disadvantage compared to their better-off peers.
Before the pandemic, marginalized groups such as low-income students were excluded from
adequate resources and support. As a result, low-income students are unable to receive the same
high-quality education as compared to higher-income pairs. According to research done by JET
educational services, phones at these students and communities that were previously disadvantaged
experience a reduction in learning opportunities and school performance. This is because online
learning has made it virtually impossible for some students to learn during the pandemic as students
do not have access to computers smart devices and the Internet. UNICEF stated that 50% of students
in the Caribbean do not have access to Internet and computers at home while 40% of students do
not have access outside of home. In Trinidad and Tobago, 20% of students do not have access to the
necessary devices to access e-learning. This is crucial because low levels of education limit a person's
ability to access a decent job and participate fully in society. Moreover, the pandemic has increased
examination cheating and academic dishonesty. A study conducted by Thomas Lancester found that
the number of questions and answers posted on learning websites such as Chegg increased by a
near 200% Between April and August of 2020. With online learning, it is easier for students to cheat
as they can use their cell phones and notes during exams. However, this leads to occupational
incompetence because the students never learn the skills and knowledge needed to perform
properly at their jobs.

Social inequality is the condition of unequal access to the benefits of belonging to any society. the
pandemic has a discriminating impact on various population groups. With the emergence of COVID-
19 women and men have been affected differently due to their distinct roles in the economy.
Women have been disproportionately affected as compared to men. Women are particularly
vulnerable because they account for a large population of informal workers as well As for service
and ancillary sectors. Due to their jobs, it is difficult for them to work remotely thus making them
vulnerable to losing their jobs and income. This sector such as tourism and ancillary I'm most
affected by the pandemic as it's difficult to continue production while trying to reduce the spread of
viruses. As a result, these businesses were temporarily or permanently closed. A study conducted in
Antigua and Barbuda phone that the closure of hotels, ancillary businesses and other service-related
businesses has affected nearly 1 in every three women. moreover, in Anguilla 60% of the tourist
workers are women and there is an expected decrease in incomes in tourism by 34% to 54%.
Because single-parent headed households are disproportionately women, any loss of income made
by women will have a direct impact on the household and their children. This is because that
household’s standard of living has changed. Standard of living is a measure of wealth, basic needs
and material comfort that a citizen can buy and be able to able enjoy some level of material comfort.
With the increasing level of unemployment among women, it is difficult to maintain a decent
standard of living. This had not only affected the household financially, but it contributes to the
decrease in school enrollment as the mothers may be unable to support the children's education
without the financial funding. Moreover, the level of domestic violence has increased since the
pandemic. Although domestic violence has been a prominent issue in the Caribbean, unemployed
women must be forced to be further financial reliant on employed abusive partners. Not only would
this increase domestic tension due to financial difficulties but increase the proximity of abusers to
their victims due to the imposed curfew. Increasing the likelihood of intimate partner violence.
Trinidad and Tobago 28 % of ever-partnered women (15-64 years) reported having been beaten
during their lifetime; the majority were first assaulted when they were under 25 years old. During
the lockdown, the United Nations Women Representative recorded that Trinidad and Tobago has
one of the highest percentage increases in domestic violence during the pandemic of 149 per cent.